Thoughts on my digital web business journey

Even though my career has transformed recently, I feel it would be a waste to lose all the years of expertise I have developed in the IT industry since 2012. Although I don’t feel ALL THAT confident in technical matters, I understand that this is par for the course, amongst (many) of my web dev or design colleagues. I was speaking to an older friend the other day. Etienne is his name. I met him back in 1997 or 1998 when he was studying Architecture at University. He did delve into web development even then. His bestie and flatmate Brian did as well. I remember seeing all sorts of interesting coloured ‘buttons’ that they designed on web pages they developed.

Etienne even devised a story book blog and asked me to be the main character. My name was Woodblockhead, which was probably a dig at me, from the beginning. We were smoking something not so great for us at that time, and I was under the influence of my first psychosis, so it probably was not going to be my BEST work. What a mess I was!! It felt exciting and fun to be that age. But, it was a pretty colourful kind of coming of age, I suppose!

To get back to my point, Etienne has been involved in Web Design and Development for all that time. Since that time, he has lectured in Digital Media and built and designed numerous websites. (As well as a house in the back of their yard).

The other day he told me that all of us in the web design field feel overwhelmed with the practicalities of technical development on the web. And not many of us actually enjoy the work! So, it can be hard to find a dedicated web design professional (amongst all the spam, of course!)

Shifting focus

This kind of validating information was helpful. And I do still want to keep my web design and digital marketing plate spinning, if possible.

When I bought some business coaching sessions from the wonderful Sara Pantaleo earlier this year, she said that for me, the biggest stumbling block in my business is my RESOURCES. As someone who suffers from a mental illness, I need a business partner or someone who I can rely on to take the reins if I become unwell.

Last year, I fell into a psychotic episode right during the DESIGN phase of a website. It was the most excruciatingly humbling experience to appreciate just how unable I was to use the rational, frontal lobe of my brain to creatively design a website during that time. It was a horrible experience, which was only resolved successfully because of some advice from a mental health crisis support service. (Long story, but they gave me a piece of information that transformed a wreck back onto land).

I don’t have an abundance of time lately. Somehow I got my wish and TALK for a living now (for the most part). It has been a wonderful journey into my passion for psychology. However, I am committed to supporting my mother in her technical needs (as needed) for her business. I am also enjoying working with a client on the far south coast of New South Wales for her interesting website.

I have never really gone out and sought out more business for my web design business. I feel there is a scope to do that. However, it was lonely work, at home alone, and so, I am happy that my life has transformed so completely from the 11 years before it.

Training a partner

I am extremely lucky to have ostensibly secured a new support client who requires support with her technical needs. And this will be a very interesting and diverse support role. However, it is only 2 hours a fortnight, initially.

And yet, I feel that it might help to give me skills to train a person (or people) who can be this business partner that I need. Today I spoke with someone who is potentially going to share her home with me for most of January 2025 (as a potential house sit). She had just quit her job in admin. And I got to thinking after I spoke to her, that maybe I could ask her if she would be interested in training up to do this work that I so desperately need as my week is becoming more and more filled with the support work that I want to do.

I am curious about why my friend Turtle drew my attention to THIS blog today. I wasn’t sure when I started writing WHAT would come out, and I feel sure that he certainly didn’t know either. However, I am wondering if he has some point to make here. 

Time for a rebrand?

I am wondering if he may have mentioned a certain European country because he is suggesting a change in the name of my business. Fizbits Web Design Iis indeed a bit misleading. I am not a very effective DESIGNER at all. It is probably my least developed skill. It could be simply called Fizbits Web, , , Not Fizbits I think?! But I am not sure, in terms of business names in Australia. In any case, I need something that will encapsulate these new support activities, allow me to take the emphasis OFF design (if somewhat temporarily), and also (possibly) take into account our broad range of content creation activities on the web as well. It needs some thought, I think. Fizbits Digital might be a clearer, and more flexible name, perhaps. What do YOU think??

My lovely helper

I have come to believe that Turtle has my best interests in mind when he scoots around all of my websites, as he tends to do. He seems to know a lot more about what is written on them than I fully remember or appreciate, , , and he seems to be across the issues. . . Maybe WE could work together on this business if that interests him at all!?

Whatever his motivation for starting this conversation tonight, I am so curious to know what he has to say next about these things!! 🙂